"Matters of Ashtar", a Newspaper Clipping from al-Ayyam, Issue No. 485, 1 May 1997

Issued on 1 May 1997, this newspaper clipping from al-Ayyam contains an article written by Wafa Darwish titled, "Matters of Ashtar", presenting a critical and analytical review of Ashtar Theatre's play titled, "Shuʾun abu Shaker" [Abu Shaker's Affairs]. Darwish dissects the play's characters into a dictator father represented by eastern patriarchy and a brother who pretends to be a progressive and a young sister with big dreams. The sister works on her big dreams whenever her father and brother are away, and it is no surprise that her father trades in spoiled food, referring to the corrupted patriarchal system dominating society. Darwish praises the fact the audience engaged heavily and positively with the Brecht play which delivers a message that the head of male patriarchy, embodied in the character of abu Shaker, must be cut off and that the absence of a collective exit leaves the door open for individual options.